It’s spooky season and that means it’s the perfect time for stories of witches, things that go bump in the night and good old fashioned (and modern!) ghost stories! So here are 4 horror anthologies to get you in the mood for Halloween 🙂

Click the ‘Read my Review’ button to see a review!

After Sundown

Authors: Alison Littlewood, Angela Slatter, C. J. Tudor, Catriona Ward, Elana Gomel, Grady Hendrix, John Langan, Jonathan Robbins Leon, Laura Purcell, Mark Morris, Michael Bailey, Michael Marshall Smith, Paul Finch, Ramsey Campbell, Rick Cross, Robert Shearman, Sarah Lotz, Simon Bestwick, Stephen Volk, Thana Niveau, Tim Lebbon

Publisher: Flame Tree Publishing

This new anthology contains 20 original horror stories, 16 of which have been commissioned from some of the top names in the genre, and 4 of which have been selected from the 100s of stories sent to Flame Tree during a 2-week open submissions window. It is the first of what will hopefully become an annual, non-themed horror anthology of entirely original stories, showcasing the very best short fiction that the genre has to offer.

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Carnipunk

Authors: Allison Pang, Delilah S. Dawson, Hillary Jacques, Jackie Kessler, Jaye Wells, Jennifer Estep, Kelly Gay, Kelly Meding, Kevin Hearne, Mark Henry, Nicole Peeler, Rachel Caine, Rob Thurman, Seanan McGuire

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

#The traveling carnival is a leftover of a bygone era, a curiosity lurking on the outskirts of town. It is a place of contradictions—the bright lights mask the peeling paint; a carnie in greasy overalls slinks away from the direction of the Barker’s seductive call. It is a place of illusion—is that woman’s beard real? How can she live locked in that watery box?  And while many are tricked by sleight of hand, there are hints of something truly magical going on. One must remain alert and learn quickly the unwritten rules of this dark show. To beat the carnival, one had better have either a whole lot of luck or a whole lot of guns—or maybe some magic of one’s own.  Featuring stories grotesque and comical, outrageous and action-packed, Carniepunk is the first anthology to channel the energy and attitude of urban fantasy into the bizarre world of creaking machinery, twisted myths, and vivid new magic.

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Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery

Authors: Alma Katsu, Amber Benson, Angela Slatter, Anita Ahlborn, Chesya Burke, Christopher Golden, Helen Marshall, Hillary Monahan, Jennifer McMahon, Kat Howard, Kelley Armstrong, Kristin Dearborn, Madaug Kenyon, Mary SanGiovanni, Rachel Autumn Deering, Rachel Caine, Sarah Langan, Sherrilyn Kenyon, Tananarive Due, Theodora Goss

Publisher: Titan Books Ltd

These are tales of wickedness… stories of evil and cunning, written by today’s women you should fear. Includes tales from Kelley Armstong, Rachel Caine and Sherrilyn Kenyon, writing in their own bestselling universes. Hex Life: Wicked New Tales of Witchery will take the classic tropes of tales of witchcraft and infuse them with fresh, feminist perspective and present-day concerns–even if they’re set in the past. These witches might be monstrous, or they might be heroes, depending on their own definitions. Even the kind hostess with the candy cottage thought of herself as the hero of her own story. After all, a woman’s gotta eat. Bring out your dread.

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Urban Enemies

Authors: Caitlin Kittredge, Carrie Vaughn, Craig Schaefer, Diana Pharaoh Francis, Domino Finn, Faith Hunter, Jeff Somers, Jim Butcher, Jon F. Merz, Jonathan Maberry, Joseph Nassise, Kelley Armstrong, Kevin Hearne, Lilith Saintcrow, Sam Witt, Seanan McGuire, Steven Savile

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Villains have all the fun—everyone knows that—and this anthology takes you on a wild ride through the dark side! The top villains from sixteen urban fantasy series get their own stories—including the baddies of New York Times bestselling authors Jim Butcher, Kevin Hearne, Kelley Armstrong, Seanan McGuire, and Jonathan Maberry. For every hero trying to save the world, there’s a villain trying to tear it all down. In this can’t-miss anthology edited by Joseph Nassise (The Templar Chronicles), you get to plot world domination with the best of the evildoers we love to hate! This outstanding collection brings you stories told from the villains’ point of view, imparting a fresh and unique take on the evil masterminds, wicked witches, and infernal personalities that skulk in the pages of today’s most popular series.

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Horror short stories are perfect for the spooky season as they give us that brief moment of spine chilling terror just like telling ghost stories at a camp fire, but with the bonus of being snuggled up warm in our beds. The great thing about these anthologies is you can take your scares in small doses and mingled with other tales so that you don’t get overwhelmed if you don’t like things too scary. Just flip the page and you’re thrown into another world, another story as a different author takes you on another tale of magic and wonder.

Anthologies are also an awesome way to find new authors! You can find some of these anthologies and more by the authors featured in them on Scribd, the ebook and audible book subscription service. Using my referral link you can get 60 days free to try it out! Perfect for spending Halloween in lockdown.

Did one of the books featured in this review catch your fancy? Grab your copy today!

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